Method of and apparatus for vaporization of liquid fuel



ms'rnon OF Arm APPAa/vrus oa vnoarznrou or LIQUID mgr;

2 shawl-sheet 2 w. =BLASK'EWITZ ET .Eiled March 21, 1928 July 8,

mg W; N w wa m r w M Patented .luly'fi, 1930 oniransra'ras ,PATENT'QFFICE WILLIA BLAsKnvrrrz AND CLARENCE B. wner, F :oErRorr; MICHIGAN, ssign."

one, BY Mnsnn Assrsrmnnrs, mo CLAYTON aLaivrnnn-r MANUFACTURING 'oo., 'on

nn'rnorr, ra-icnrean, Aooa'roa'erron' or DELAWARE V mnrnzon orann arranarns FOB, VAPORIZATION or LIQUID FUEL Application filed March 21, 1928. Serail No. 263,432.

. This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for vaporization of liquid fuel, and ha to do particularly With the initial preheating and vaporization of liquid fuels for accelerating starting of liquid fuel burners,

' porization' and inmaintaining continuedvaporization ofthe fuel for any length of time. The main .difiiculty With generator tubes of the prior art in connection with the starting thereof has been the length of time required to efiiciently heat the generator tube in preparation for continued vaporization, and the main 7 difiiculty in the maintaining of continued efficient vaporization has been the 'carbonizati'on and choking up of the generator tube. Different theories have been advanced as to the reason for this carbonization and choking up ofthe generating tube, but-regardless of the theory, it is common knowledge that the generating tubes of the prior art do quickly carbonize and choke up, thus requiring frequent cleaning, repairing and replacement. The. present invention contemplates the provision of an entirely novel method-and apparatus for effecting the initial preheating of liquid fuel to accelerate the starting thereof,

and then controlling the generation ofthe liquid fuel during normal operation in such a manner as to effect efficient vaporization, and at the same time materially prevent the formation of any carbon. I More specifically, this invention relates to the provision of a novel method of starting vaporization of liquid fuel by isolating a predetermined amount of the liquid fuel, arranging said isolated fuel in a helical column, a portion of which is of relativelylarge cross section, Wherebythe liquid fuelis quickly vaporized, and whereby the tube for carrying the fuel is so heated When allsuch isolated fuel is vaporized as to'be in a condition for normal continuous operation.- This invention also relates to a novel method .of continuously feeding liquid fuel in a relatively small column which is maintained relatively cool and then increasing the size ofthecolumn and localizing the heated fuelto said increased column whereby the fuel as itis heated also gradually expands and thus prevents back pressure. This novelmethod is carried out by means of a'generatingtube, in combination with a liqnid fuel burner, including preheating or starting apparatus, said generating tube having a portion of relatively small diameter (which may be termed of normal standard diameter) and a portion at theend thereof of enlarged diameter. This generator tube is also designed so as to feed the liquid fuel therethrough in a helical column, the cross section of said helical column in said portion of the tube of small diameter being relatively small, and the cross section of the helical column in the portion of the tube of relatively large diameter being correspondingly large, said generator tube and the burner and starting apparatus being so arranged that the blast for starting and the heat for maintaining vaporization is applied to'onlythe large part of the tube, and theihelical column being so designed andthe tube, being of such size that when the supply of liquid fuel is shut off, the remaining fuel in the generator tube will be vaporized and expelled from the gen erator tube. f

In the drawings: I V Fig. l-is a vertical, sectional View taken through a stove structure embodying our novel generating tube, and illustrating one manner of starting vaporization in the gen- 1.

erator tube preparatory to normal operation. Fig. 2 is'a' section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

The subject matter of this application is disclosed in application Serial No. 131,868 filed August 27, 1926, the present joint inventors being co-inventors in said application No. 131,868.

In illustrating the present invention it has been shown in connection with a stove structure of the liquid fuel type such as illustrated in application #131,868, but it Will be understood that the present method and apparatus may be equally well utilized in connection with any similar burner structure requiring burner elements, and means for vaporizing liquid fuel.

In the particular embodiment illustrated, namely, that of a gasoline stove, a burner structure is shown as at '1, as being stationary, and the generating structure, which includes as a unit'the generator tube 2, valve member 3 and tank 1, is mounted for reciprocable movement relative to the burner, as will be obvious by comparing Figs. 1 and 4.

Connecting the generating tube 2 and the burner 1 is a combined preheating and mixing chamber generally designated 5. This combined preheating and mixing chamber is stationary and is provided with a head 6 adapted to receive and guide the end of the generator tube and to supply a suitable supply of air thereto for effecting a combustible mixture. The top part of this member is horizontally pivoted as at 7 and is adapted to be moved to the vertical position shown in Fig. 1, which is the starting position. This top part'of the unit 5 is provided with a drip pan 8 formed integrally therewith, and a curved deflecting portion 9 which is adapted to direct the vapori zed gases issuing from the end of the generator tube bachwardly against the same. This movable portion of the member of housing 5 is adapted to be closed as shown in Fig. 4. whereby the priming cup 8 is moved adjacent the back wallof the member 5, and such member then constitute'sa mixing chamber for mixing air with the vaporized gas and conducting the mixture downwardly and backwardly through the passageway 10, to the burner or burners 1..

The generator tube 2 is preferably secured to the valve member 3 and is provided with an enlarged portion 11 and a relatively small but normally sized portion 12. A suitable rod 13 extends the length of this generator tube and is provided at the end thereof with a suitable cleansing wire for keeping the oritics of the jet block 14 clean. A suitable coil of wire 15 surrounds and extends the length of this red 13, whereby to restrict but at the same time insure positive feeding of the liquid fuel and the gases by capillary action. A second coiled wire 16 is positioned around the coiled wire 15 and extends the length of the enlarged portion 11 of the generating tube. This second coiled wire 16 insures the feeding of the liquid fuel and/or vapor in a much larger and annular helical column,

whereby a considerably greater area of liquid fuel is presented for heating, either for starting or continued operation. As will be later described, the enlarged portion of the generating tube is the only part thereof which is submitted to a vaporizing flame, and it will be obvious that because of this relatively large portion of the generating tube and the presenting of the liquid fuel in a column of relatively large area adjacent the outer wall of this enlarged portion that the liquid fuel and gases will be more quickly and eiiiciently vaporized.

The enlarged portion 11 of the generator tube is, in the present embodiment, adapted to be positioned either above the preheating or starting flame from the priming cup 8, as shown in Fig. 1, or above the burner 1, as shown in Fig. 4. This preheating tube 2 is made of a predetermined size and capacity, and this is obtained mainly by enlarging the end of the tube to hold a predetermined amount of liquid fuel for starting purposes. This amount of liquid fuel is suflicient, when ignited, to preheat the tube to the required extent to efliciently cause vaporization of any additional fuel fed into the tube. In other words, the generating tube is of such size, and is provided with the capillary coil, so as to hold just the right amount of fuel so arranged and positioned, that when such fuel in the generator tube is vaporized that the apparatus will be in condition for continuous operation. .Vhile the tube 2 is a very good conductor of heat, the rear portion of this tube is so positioned relative to the source of heat, and is of such relatively small diameter, that it is relatively cool compared to the enlar ed portion of the tube. It will therefore be obvious that by heating only the enlarged portion of the tube, the liquid fuel will be gradually heated as it is gradually fed forward and will be permitted to expand simultaneously with this gradual heating so that at the hottest part of the tube the gases *ill have expanded to their greatest extent. The immediate and important advantage of this structure is the prevention of back pressure and the diminishing of heat conducted back to the fuel tank, with the practical result that carbonization is materially reduced. I

Tl hen the valve member 3 i closed the design of the generator tube 2 and the arrangement of the coiled wires thereof to efiect capillary action, together with the presenting of the fuel in a relatively large column, will positively cause all of the liquid fuel to be fed forwardly and quickly vaporized, and wil also effect the positive expulsion of all of the fuel or ases from the generating tube the end of each operation whereby the generator tube is emptied so that there is nothing to carbonize when the same cools down.

The exact structural and mechanical arrangement of the .various parts of the,.par-.

' tic-ular stove structure, as shown, need not be member are positioned in front of the stove and the enlarged portion of the tube is :positioned directly above the burner member 1.

In the initial preheating operation the fuel feeding unit and the generating tube,being' in the position shown in'Fig. 1, the preheater member and fuel pan-is moved to the position shown in Fig. 1. The valve in the valve housing 3. is then opened until the generator tube is filled and a small amount of the fuel is directed into the fuel pan 8 whereupon the valve is closed. This fuel in the fuel pan 8 is then ignited and the open flames thereof directed upwardly against the enlarged portion of the generator tube; this generator tube being so enlarged and so formed-as to present the fuel in a helical. column of r913 tively large area, the heat from the open flame will quickly cause vaporization of the fuel and an expansion of thesame whereby the generated gases willbe forced from'the jet block and against the curved portion 9 of thepreheating member. These emitted gases will be deflected backwardly, rearwardly and upwardly against and around the generator tube, and will also be instantly ignited so as to strike the generator tube in the form of a blast of flame. The enlarged portion of the generator tube will be quickly heated and the liquid fuel in such tube will be gradually fed forwardly to be heated, expanded-and emitted from the generator tube. Before or'at the time the liquid fuel in the generator tube has been completely vaporized and forced from the tube, the generator tube. will be sufficiently heated and will be in condition for normal operation, in which case the pivoted preheater member may be moved into its closed'position, as shown in Fig. 4.

When this is done the stove is'ready for operation and the fuel feeding unit maybe moved towards outward position which cor-- responds to the position shown in Fig. 4, and

the valve member 3 opened to admit liquid fuel to the generator tube. This fuel will be immediately fed under pressure and capillary action to the enlarged part of the generator tube where it will be vaporized, ex-' panded and emitted under pressure from the jet block. These emitted gases passing the air intakes in the headfi will-draw in a sufficient amount of air to produce a combustible mixture, which mixture will'be conducted downwardly and backwardly through the passageway 10 and to theburner or burners V 1. These gases issuing. from the burner 1 may then be ignited to heatthe enlarged poroperation of the stove, as long as desired. 7 It will thusbe seen that we have provided a'generating tube, a portionflof which is.

adapted to maintain the raw liquid fuel relatively cool, and another portion of which is tion 11 of the generator tube for acontinued adapted to present the fuel in such aform to be heated, and so heating thesame; as to cause vaporization and permit the expansion of the fuel, the purpose being to materially prevent back pressure and diminish carbonization. We have found. that a generator 'tube constructed in accordance with the discapacity .of tl1e helical annular passageway.

therein preferably bears a predetermined relation tothe capacity. of the helical. annular passageway. in the smaller portion, that such proportion mayvary widely as well asthe relative design thereof, and still permit posi-' tive feeding by capillaryactionand permit expansion of the vaporized fuel as well as effecting emptying of thetube when the burneris shut off. 7 What we claim is:

1. The method of. starting and operating a liquid fuel burner of the type utilizing a generating tube, which consists in initially filling the tube with a predetermined amount of liquid fuel and closing. off a further supply, heating said tube to vaporize said predeter- ,mineol amount of liquid fuel andutilizing the vaporizedpredetermined amount of fuel to assist in preheating the tube whereby, when substantially all of said .fuelhas been vaporized, the tube will besufiiciently heated for regular operation and continuous vaporization.

22 The method of vaporizing liquid fuel for liquid fuel .burners utilizing generator tubes, which consists-in conducting the fuel in 'a relatively small column towardsthe heating means, maintaining said relatively small column in arelatively cool condition, and then increasing the size of-said column as it enters the heating zone. 7 I i V I I 3. The method-of vaporizing liquid fuel, which'consists' in conducting the-fuel in a relatively small enclosed column maintained ata relatively low temperature, andthenin creasing the size. of the column and subjectingthe same toa-relativelyhigh heatingzone be-fore combining the same with air to form the combustible mixture.

4:. The method of vaporizing liquid fuel, \vhic-h consists in conducting the fuel in a relatively small column maintained at a relative'ly low temperature, increasing the size of the column and maintaining the larger column at a relatively high temperature and restricting but positively feeding the fuel by capillary action. v

5. The method of conducting fuel through a generating tube forming a partof a liquid fuel burner structure, which consists in maintaininga heating and vaporizing zone, and continuously feeding all the fuel through said zone in a helical column of relatively large diameter.

6. The method of heating and controlling the flow of liquid fuel in burners of the liquid fuel type, which consists in'conducting liquid fuel in a helical column of relatively small cross section and convolution, and then 'conducting said [column in a helical path of relatively larger cross section and convolution, initially preheating the column of relatively large cross section to accelerate th e vaporization of the liquid fuel, and then constantly applying heat to said column of relatively large cross section only whereby to supply a continuous flow of vaporized fuel 'or gas for effecting regular operation of the bur ner.

7.That step in the vaporization of liqiiid fuel in burners of the type having a generator tube for vaporizing the liquid fuel prior to combining the same with air to form a combust-ible mixture, which consists in confining the liquid fuel to a relatively small an nular and relatively cool column, and then simultaneously enlarging said column and heating the same to cause vaporization.

8. A generating unit for a burner structure of the liquid f'uel'type having a portion of its length of relatively small cross section and a portion of relatively large cross section, means for conducting the liquid fuel in a closed annular path to said portion of relatively large cross section, preparatory to vaporizing the fuel and mixing the same with air and heating means positioned adjacent said portion of relatively large cross-section only. i p '9. Burner structure of the liquid fuel type, comprising a starting member, aburner sgenerawr member connected With a source of liquid fuel supply, said generator membet havinga ortion of r latively small surface area, and a portion of relatively largesiir face area, said generating member and aaing member being arranged for relative movement whereby said starting member will heat the enlarged portion of the g nerator tube only, for starting the saniegsaid en+ larged portion of the generator tube Being osition d adjacent said burner, and said smaller portion being positioned relatively remote therefrom during the normal operation of the burner whereby the liquid fuel initially fed to said generator tube Will remain relatively cool until it approaches the relatively large portion adjacent said burner when it Will simultaneously expand and vaporize. p

1-0. Liquid fuel burning apparatus coin; prising a generator tube having a portion of its length of relatively small cross section, and a portion of relatively large cross secti'on, meanswvithin said tube for forming an annular helical passageway of small diameter and relatively small cross section in the first portion of said tube and an annular passageway of relatively large diameter and relatively large crosssection in the second poition of said tube, and a heating zone for said enlarged portion of said tube, said helical passageway of said enlarged portion being of such predetermined capacity relative to the helical passageway in the smaller portion of the tube as to permit expansion of the heated fuel and prevent material back pressure at the entrance end of the generator tube.

11. A liquid fuel burning apparatus com prising a generating tube havinpfla portion of relatively small diameter and a portion of relatively large'diameter, means connected to said portion of relatively small diameter for controlling the feeding of liquid fuel thereto, said portion of larger diameter extending to the end of the generator tube at which point the vaporized fuel is mixed with air, means Within said tube arranged to form a helical annular passageway of increasing diameter and cross section, means for applying a vaporizing heat to the enlarged portion only of said generating tube, and means the entrance of said generating tube for shutting off the fuel supply thereto, said helical passageway being of such size as to have a capillary action on thefuel, and the enlargekfl portion of said generating t be being of such size that when said supply of fuel is shut off the remainder in the generating tube will be vaporized and expelled to completely empty the same.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures. v

WILLIAM BLASKEEVITZ. CLARENCE B. OVERLY.

Ill) 

